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home living
WATER WISE SOLUTIONS… Pictured from left, Bunnings Warehouse Activities Organiser, Andy Portia with lifestyles Team Members, Carol Collins and Wade Huggard. Photo: Madeleine Caccianiga.
Creating a
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NATIONAL Water Week is an annual awareness week that aims to improve the community’s understanding of water issues in Australia. To celebrate National Water Week, the expert team members from Bunnings Warehouse Echuca and Bunnings Warehouse Shepparton will share their tips on how to create a water wise garden through a range of demonstrations and DIY activities in preparation for the warmer weather. The Kids DIY Workshops will encourage kids to learn to reduce water usage and how it can be achieved easily through fun and simple steps, while the Adults DIY Workshops will focus on different projects that will help to save water and money around the home. Information is also available via the Bunnings website and in-store to help customers save water and money, including free brochures, DIY videos and an interactive Sustainability Savings Planner. Workshops will take place on Saturday, October 24 and Sunday, October 25 at Bunnings Warehouse Echuca, 131 Ogilvie Avenue, phone 5482 0200 and Bunnings Warehouse Shepparton, 225 Benalla Road, phone 5820 2200.
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Page 38 – The Adviser. Australia No. 1:1273 Wednesday, Ocotber 21, 2015
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Three steps for successful pre-auction offers
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YOU’VE seen a property you’re interested in but you’re not so keen on buying at auction. Rest assured, there is another way to make the place yours. Patrick Nolan, Head of Home Loans for industry super fund-owned bank, ME walks through what’s involved. “In a hot market vendors are often keen to sell their property at auction. But for buyers, the high pressure environment of an auction can be less attractive. “Happily, there is an alternative, and it involves making a pre-auction offer. If you play your cards right, you could come up trumps as the new owner of the property – without having to deal with the stress of an auction.”
Here’s what’s involved:
Making a pre-auction offer is as simple as putting in writing what you are prepared to pay for the property. Then submit your offer to the auction a week or two before auction day. However making your offer compelling calls for three critical steps.
Step 1: Know the market
The listing agent may have provided an estimate of the
home living Permanent Water Saving Rules Apply
MAKE IT YOURS… Beat the high pressure environment of an auction with three simple steps. Photo: Supplied.
likely sale price achievable at auction. Remember this is an estimate only and it could be a low ball figure. It’s up to you to work out what the property is really worth, and that means lots of research. Once you have a firm idea of what the property could sell for and the level of buyer interest, consider making a strong offer – close to your buying limit but still with some powder in the keg.
Step 2: Don’t reveal your hand
Selling agents are paid to achieve the highest possible price, and chances are you’ll be asked about the maximum price you’re willing to pay. Don’t give away too much as this can limit your bargaining power – especially if the agent has received other pre-auction offers.
Step 3: Be organised
Pre-auction offers are typically unconditional so it is critical to have all your ducks in a row. That means having the sale contract checked out by your solicitor – and talking to your lender.
AS we move into the warmer months of the year, Goulburn Valley Water (GVW) would like to remind customers that Permanent Water Saving Rules (PWSR) remain in place. PWSR promote efficient and sensible use of town water without significantly restricting customer choice and flexibility. They reflect the value that our customers place on water, and the community view that water is a precious resource that should not be wasted. GVW Manager Operations, Steve Nash said while the Corporation’s water storages have sufficient supply, there is still an expectation that our customers respect and value their water and are sensible when using it in and around the home. “With the recent hot weather we’ve certainly noticed higher water use continuing throughout the day, indicating some customers are operating sprinklers after 10am.” GVW would like to remind customers that time limits apply on garden watering to ensure it takes place in the cooler parts of the day when evaporation is less and some sense is required when cleaning hard surfaces like concrete or decking. “The hosing down of driveways is not permitted – we ask customers to use a broom or a blower instead,” Mr Nash said. “Also we really like our customers to enjoy their gardens, but do request that they attach a trigger nozzle to the garden hose to control the flow of water when watering their plants.” Mr Nash also said that it was important customers reduced water use in the middle of the day to enable the Corporation’s water treatment plants time to recover. “High usage outside PWSR impacts on our water supply systems, our treatment plants need time to refill to ensure peak demands can be met.” Under permanent water saving rules, customers are reminded that: • Sprinklers can be used after 6pm and before 10am; • Handheld hoses can be used any time if a trigger nozzle is attached; and • Brooms or blowers must be used to clean hard surfaces. Permanent Water Saving Rules are in place on a permanent and ongoing basis and full details can be found at www.gvwater.vic.gov.au
The Adviser. Australia No. 1:1273 Wednesday, Ocotber 21, 2015 – Page 39